Yesterday's lesson had us discussing mainly about global dominance and human development. Prof mentioned about the rising star vs the falling star, and the characteristics they held. I felt that it was very clear cut, and makes it much easier for us to identify companies and countries that are on the rise to being dominant, and the falling ones due to their closed perspectives and disinterest in learning from others etc.
We started the Individual Oral Presentations by our guest star speakers. 4 brave souls came up to do great presentations. First was by Ellen, on Americanization. Second was by Benji on Internet Addiction, followed by Prema on The Capability Approach, and lastly Agriculture by Nickolas.
I felt that one of the most interesting part of the lesson, apart from the presentations, was the video that Prof let us watch on globalization. Why is it that big corporations like Nike and Gap for example, produce so much cargo, earn so much profits, but yet pay their workers pittance. Although some may say that globalization is actually helpful to the workers, rather than being unemployed. In most cases, they are already grateful for having a job, despite the low pay. However, I am against the fact that big stars are paid so much just to advertise the brand, but yet the wages of the workers cannot be increased. Not only the advertisers are highly paid, even the managers of such companies are earning millions.
I was exposed to the MDG-Millenium Development Goals, which is basically 8 goals that the world wants to fulfil by 2015. They are:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality rate
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development
If these goals are achieved by 2015, the world would definitely be a much better places. However, with what we are doing now, is the target dateline plausible? So many children all over the world are still dying of starvation, mothers are dying from childbirth due to poor sanitation..but what are the rest of the world doing? People are wasting resources in developed countries, they are taking advantage of the bountiful riches their land bestowed upon them. Upon seeing the video, hearing of so many deaths across the world, I really want to help them, I really wish that the world, the UN will do a little more. These people do not deserve to die, they still have a future. ):
The key takeaway message I got from the lesson was once again Prof's message at the back of the SR. "Change is inevitable and often neccesary; the transition process can often be difficult and painful (for some)."
Development=change and vice versa? Or do they not mean the same thing. Change is indeed inevitable. Things have been changing since the stone age, or rather, even before the stone age. We have changed from the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and now Neolithic periods. We are changing everyday. Technology changes everyday; Change happens, whether we want it to or not. For without change, we will still be stuck back in time, in our own little bubble of sticks and wood to make fire.
I felt that we could discuss more about the MDG, and how we can help to achieve them rather than sitting back and letting our governments do the job. It is an interesting topic about humanitarian aid. However, I understand that due to the time constrain and we still had our guest presenters to deliver their presentation, it was not possible.
I would rate the lesson an 8/10, as it is the 2nd lesson and I've gotten used to the style of Prof's lesson, it is not so overwhelming anymore. I'm pretty happy that I broke out of my own shell by raising my hands to provide some of my own opinions in class yesterday. I realised that preparing for the Individual Oral Presentation is not easy, and I applaud the 4 of them who did so well yesterday. I'm doing mine next week, so please have mercy class!
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